How I Won the War

How I Won the War (1967)

How I Won the War is a 1967 World War II satire that stars Michael Crawford, Roy Kinnear, Lee Montague and legendary Beatle John Lennon. The film, which was directed by Richard Lester, focuses on a fictional British 4th Musketeer regiment from 1942-1945. Even though the regiment is fictional, the battles are in fact true, as they fight in North Africa to Remagen Bridge.

The following weapons were used in the film How I Won the War:

Lee Enfield No.1 Mk.III*

The Lee Enfield No.1 Mk.III* is seen quite often, as it's in the hands of most of the characters. This is historically accurate as it was used before the No.4 Mk.I, however, by 1945, the Musketeers are still using the No.1 Mk.III. It would have been more accurate if they were given the No.4 Mk.I. It is used by Gripweed (John Lennon), Clapper (Roy Kinnear), and others. It can also be seen in various different colors. It is also seen in various stock footage of the African campaign.

File:LOL Lennon.jpg

Gripweed celebrates as he successfully steals a bottle of milk with his SMLE in his hands. His excitement however, attracts the attention of a MG42 gun crew.

File:Lennon with MkIII.jpg

Gripweed holds his SMLE No.1 Mk.III* to his face before the German attack.

Gripweed and Capper fire off the SMLE No.1 Mk.III* at the Germans.

Sten Mk.II

The Sten Mk II is seen towards the end of the movie, only in the hands of Lt. Ernest Goodbody (Michael Crawford). It has the alternate(Canadian) stock, rather than the more common "T-style" stock.

Goodbody fires his Sten Mk.II at the Germans during the attack.

Goodbody's Sten firing.

Bren Mk.I

The Bren Mk.I is seen at the beginning of the film, being fired at the Musketeers during training. It is also seen mounted on vehicles and used widely in the North African Campaign.

The Bren Mk.I being fired during a training exercise.

The Bren Mk.I overwatching the Musketeers advance.

Lt. Goodbody fires the Bren gun at the Germans while the other Musketeers fall back.

File:How I Won the War Bren.jpg

A mounted Bren firing at a German aircraft (which is really British) while it fails (several times) to hit Goodbody.

Sgt. Transom firing the Bren unmounted at the airplane.

Musketeers look over a Goodbody celebrating after what he thought was a German airplane.

Webley Mk.VI

A Webley Mk.VI revolver is seen in the hands of Lt. Goodbody during the North African campaign.

File:How I Won the War Webley.jpg

Lt. Goodbody retreating after the Musketeers retreat, while he runs with his Webley Mk. VI out because his Bren ran out of ammo.

Lt. Goodbody points a Webley Mk. VI at the German prisoners before jumping up and down in excitement.

File:How I Won the War Webley 3.jpg

Lt. Goodbody points a Webley Mk. VI at a German flamethrower, successfully blowing the fuel tank and setting off a ball of fire.

Browning M2HB

The Browning M2HB is seen in stock footage of the African campaign as well as one of the tanks. It is never fired.

The M2HB on one of the Musketeers trucks.

M1928 Thompson

The M1928 Thompson is seen very briefly when a soldier on a bubblegum/cigarette card charging the beach is carrying one. The real M1928 is never shown.

The M1928 Thompson being carried across the beach.

Browning M1919A4

A Browning M1919A4 Machine gun is mounted on a Sherman tank crossing across the bridge. It is never fired.

Browning M1919A4 on an M31C pedestal mount - .30-06 Springfield

The M1919 mounted on the tank while the Americans move across the bridge.

The barrel of the M1919 on the tank.

Karabiner 98k

German soldiers are commonly seen with Karabiner 98k rifles.

A German soldier stabs Clapper with a bayonet mounted on his Karabiner 98k.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

German soldiers while crossing the bridge over the Rhine. Comically, they bring with them several unusual objects they took from houses.

File:How I Won the War G98.jpg

A German soldier on the left hand side walks by Goodbody with a Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifle.

File:How I Won the War G98 1.jpg

A German soldier, with his Gewehr 1898 rifle over his back, carries a chandelier he picked up. Ironically, the German officer talking to Goodbody says that "they don't really take alot of things".

MP40

MP40's are seen in only a few hands, and are seen being only fired during the final battle.

A German soldier firing an MP40 at Goodbody.

MG42

The MG42 is another weapon used by German forces.

MG42 with bipod extended - 7.92mm Mauser

The muzzle of the MG42 being fired at the Musketeers.